Montgomery Ward was one of seven initial BREVARD MALL stores. These were officially dedicated in March 1963. "Monkey Wards" anchored the south end of the complex between 1963 and 1980 and 1987 and 1997.
Drawing from Montgomery Ward & Company

J.C. Penney's BREVARD location opened for business, along with six inline stores, in August 1963. Penney's anchored the north end of the mall for 20 years.
Drawing from the J.C. Penney Company

A circa-'63 site plan of the Platinum Coast complex, which encompassed a single level (no basements in Florida) and covered around 313,000 leasable square feet. The 3.5 million dollar shopping hub would eventually contain thirty stores and services beneath its open-air awnings. Free parking was provided for 3,000 autos.

BREVARD MALL TENANTS 1963:

MONTGOMERY WARD (with luncheonette and freestanding Auto Center) / J.C. PENNEY (with Snack Bar and attached Auto Center) / WINN-DIXIE supermarket / J.G. McCRORY 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / Brevard Opticians / Brevard Vogue Shops / Corso's Photo Center / Duval's Jewelers / Eckerd Drugs (with luncheonette) / Household Finance Corporation / Kinney Shoes / Mac's Friendly Tavern / McCue's Barber Shop / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Myers Restaurant / Ofstein's Shoe Repair & Leather Goods / Ruth Ann Fashions / The Card Mart / The Modern Housekeeper Laundry & Cleaners / Thom McAn Shoes / Varsity Shop men's & boy's wear / Vincent et Vincent Hair Stylists of Brevard Mall 

Although BREVARD MALL was the region's first mall-type venue, it wasn't the area's earliest enclosed shopping center. This distinction goes to Titusville's SEARSTOWN MALL, which made its debut in November 1967. SEARSTOWN charter tenants included Publix, an F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 and Trade Winds Cafeteria. As its name implied, the complex was also anchored by Sears.
Graphic from the Alton Irby III Company